Oh The Love Of The Father

Oh The Love Of The Father

Luke 15:1-24

1st John 3:1

 

 

Jesus

 

 

 

   3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."  (1 John 3:1)

 

 

  Look at this beautiful promise to the redeemed of God through Christ's sacrifice.  We are called sons and daughters of God.  Let that soak in.  Say it out loud again, the Scripture passage, read it aloud once more slowly.  Consider this if you will.  God, the Most High, the Creator, the Sustainer, the Ancient of days, El Shaddai is our Father.  Jesus foretold us of this promise, He taught us to pray "Our Father..."  which was a new dispensation of the face and heart of God revealed to us.  Until that time man had called on all the Old Testament names and attributes of God.  The Hebrew when blessing their meal today, still say, "Blessed be You Lord God King of the Universe..."

 

  Jesus is shows us the deeper level of intimacy that grace ushered in.  Jesus shows us in the passage of Luke record of three of Jesus' parables to show us, and the lost of Whom God desires to be in the lives of His creation of humanity.  Let us look at these three parables.

 

 

15 "1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.

² And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
³ And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
⁴ What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
⁵ And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
⁶ And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
⁷ I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
⁸ Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
⁹ And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
¹¹ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
¹² And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
¹³ And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
¹⁴ And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
¹⁵ And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
¹⁶ And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
¹⁷ And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
¹⁸ I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
¹⁹ And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
²⁰ And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
²¹ And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
²² But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
²³ And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
²⁴ For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry."
  See who drew near to Jesus as He spoke these parables?  The scum of the Earth in the Judean Society of Christ's day.  That is who Jesus revealed the Father to that day.  He begins with illustrating the value of the lost soul to God the Creator in light of His creation.  He uses sheep because that was the valuable commodity of that society.  He uses the woman and the coin for women without a husband or son, had no hope of income or provision apart from God, so a coin was a matter of life and death value.  Jesus brings the worth of the soul to the Father, to the forefront of these sinners and Publicans eyes. 
  Then Jesus swings to the beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son.  He has their attention, trust me they are listening by indication of their drawing near.  He has mention value so we know he has the Publicans attention.  He mentions a woman and a coin so we know the women are engaged in listening.  He tells of a son, who in Aramaic or Judean Society basically revolts against his father, a big no..no in this era of time and civilization.  So bad so that his request for his share of the inheritance, was akin to a slap in the face, spitting in his father's face, and saying, "Won't you die and give me my share of your property, so I can go my own path and choose myself, my wants, my desires, my flesh over your love for me."   The people Jesus was speaking to understood this concept of Jesus' story.  Jesus doesn't stop there.  He goes deeper, and speaks of how the son goes and does what his father had always instructed him not to do.  Out of love, his father had shown him the proper way of living, the opposite of riotous living the son chose.  As Jesus progresses He paints the portrait of the Father and His value and love of a man's soul.  The son squanders his father's property ie... inheritance and ends up working and dining with swine.  This was the ultimate rock bottom for a Judean of any sexual gender, the breaking point.  But, yes Beloved but... the son REPENTS and goes back to his dad, begging to be a servant. 
   Notice where the father is at?  He is scanning the horizon!  He is looking for his son!  We see this in the "While he was far away..." statement.  His father was looking and hoping and waiting for his son to return.  Imagine the joy in that father's heart when he saw his son.  He slayed his fattest calf and had a feast for him and rejoiced.  What is the value of the soul?  It is the love of God!  That makes it invaluable.  It cost God Himself. that is the price of a lost soul,  Oh what great love God has offered to man, and what great love bestowed on us who have repented and believed!  Love in Christ Jason!